Thai Border Police Arrest Five Vietnamese Suspects for Selling Drug-Infused Vape Pods

Key summary

On October 25, 2026, Major General Nopasin Puulsawat, Commander of the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs Police (Pat), and Inspector Pol. Atorn Polasit Sutthikaj, Head of Investigation Division, Border Control No. 1, ordered the arrest of five Vietnamese nationals caught illegally selling 'Pod K' vape cartridges mixed with sedatives. The suspects were apprehended at a condominium in the Pratunam area after an undercover operation initiated by intelligence on one suspect, nicknamed 'Mr. Tiger,' who was distributing the product to teenagers and tourists. Police seized 3,200 pods valued at over 5 million baht. Initial testing confirmed the presence of etomidate, a medical anesthetic used for surgery, which had been mixed into the vape liquid. A subsequent raid on a hotel in Pratunam where the suspects were staying revealed equipment for mixing the liquid and raw materials including etomidate. The five suspects are being prosecuted under Thai law for producing, importing, exporting, selling, or possessing unauthorized psychoactive substances without a license.